CDC finds rare mutations in U.S. bird flu case; risk to the public remains low.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday its analysis of samples from the first severe case of bird flu in the country last week showed mutations not seen in samples from an infected backyard flock on the patient's property.
The CDC said the patient's sample showed mutations in the hemagglutinin (HA) gene, the part of the virus that plays a key role in it attaching to host cells.
The health body said the risk to the general public from the outbreak has not changed and remains low.
Last week, the United States reported its first severe case of the virus, in a Louisiana resident above the age of 65, who was suffering from severe respiratory illness.
The patient was infected with the D1.1 genotype of the virus that was recently detected in wild birds and poultry in the United States, and not the B3.13 genotype detected in dairy cows, human cases and some poultry in multiple states.
The mutations seen in the patient are rare but have been reported in some cases in other countries and most often during severe infections. One of the mutations was also seen in another severe case from British Columbia, Canada.
No transmission from the patient in Louisiana to other persons has been identified, said the CDC.
Turkey has begun exporting around 15,000 tonnes of eggs to the United States as a devastating outbreak of bird flu is slashing U.S. production and sending prices soaring, a leading sector official said on Wednesday.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that the risk to the general population from H5N1 bird flu remains low, despite the first reported death from the virus in the United States.
U.S. reports first human death from H5N1 bird flu in Louisiana. Experts urge caution for those in contact with birds as the virus spreads among poultry and wildlife.
The CDC confirms bird flu in two Washington poultry workers and ruled out infections in Missouri healthcare staff.
Germany plans to release an additional 3 billion euros in military aid for Ukraine, marking a breakthrough after Chancellor Olaf Scholz had previously blocked the funds over borrowing rule concerns.
China has appointed Li Xiaolong as vice minister of the Ministry of Housing and the Human Resources Ministry, tasked with overseeing key policies in housing and workforce management.
This Sunday, March 23, negotiations will take place between the US and Russia regarding the details of a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Anti-government protests erupted outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, with demonstrators calling for his resignation after his announcement to oust the head of internal security, joined by relatives of hostages worried about their loved ones' fate.
The inside of a Herculaneum delicate & ancient scroll, unseen for nearly 2,000 years, has been revealed using Artificial Intelligence.
Regarding the Armenia-Azerbaijan process, we cannot forget the years of occupation, and we will not forget them, President Ilham Aliyev said in his speech at the opening ceremony of the 12th Global Baku Forum.
President Donald Trump has vowed to respond to the European Union's counter-tariffs, escalating tensions over the U.S. steel and aluminum duties that have sparked a trade dispute between the two economic powers.
Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on Tuesday to a proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump that Russia and Ukraine cease attacking each other's energy infrastructure for 30 days, the Kremlin said following a lengthy phone discussion between the leaders.
AstraZeneca is acquiring Belgium-based EsoBiotec for $1 billion to expand its cell therapy capabilities, with the deal set to close in the second quarter.
Over a million displaced people in Myanmar are set to be affected by the World Food Programme’s cuts to food aid worldwide.
Measles cases in the European region surged to a 25-year high in 2024, more than doubling from the previous year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF reported on Thursday, urging immediate action to restore vaccination levels that declined after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cases in Europe are expected to rise in the coming months, the ECDC warned, citing seasonal trends and low vaccination rates. With over 32,000 cases reported in the past year—mostly in Romania—health officials stress the urgent need for higher immunization to prevent further outbreaks.
Germany plans to release an additional 3 billion euros in military aid for Ukraine, marking a breakthrough after Chancellor Olaf Scholz had previously blocked the funds over borrowing rule concerns.
China has appointed Li Xiaolong as vice minister of the Ministry of Housing and the Human Resources Ministry, tasked with overseeing key policies in housing and workforce management.
This Sunday, March 23, negotiations will take place between the US and Russia regarding the details of a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Anti-government protests erupted outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, with demonstrators calling for his resignation after his announcement to oust the head of internal security, joined by relatives of hostages worried about their loved ones' fate.
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